EU commission worries over euro

The Commissioner believes Europeans will quickly adapt

European monetary affairs commissioner Pedro Solbes Mira has admitted his concerns about the introduction of the new currency.

However, speaking exclusively to the BBC's World Business Report he said that sufficient preparations had been made to ensure a smooth launch of the euro as a cash currency.

He admitted that many people would have a certain "trepidation" about the change.

"We are not confused when we go to a different country after the first or second day... After one week all of us will be already used to the new situation," he said.

Concerns

"We have a lot of concerns, the logistics of the operation is quite diffcult. To put into the market more or less 15 billion notes and more or less 50 billion coins. It is a big effort. We have to discuss about transport, security, about counterfeiting," he said.

"All these elements have been well analysed. We have prepared all the necessary elements to deal with these different questions," he added.

The joint effort of the European Central Bank, national central banks and the European Commission should ensure that everyone across Europe is fully prepared for the new notes and coins on 1 January next year, he said.

The Commission decided to wait until 1 September to start its publicity campaign, because "only when the introduction of notes and coins was quite close would consumers pay sufficient attention to denominations and the different elements they have to take into consideration."

"I am completely sure this will be a great success," he said.